Pin Parvati Pass Trek

The trail begins with a sharp descent until we hit the riverbed. Post this, it is a moderate climb all the way up to Nakthan which is an even smaller settlement. It accommodates close to 20-30 households with a few options of refreshments and snacks if you want to fill your tummies for the trek ahead. The village sits to the left of the roaring Parvati River and lies at a halfway mark on the trail to Kheerganga. Bordered by neatly laid out rows of apple trees on both sides of the village along with the variety of colours bursting out from the flora in and around the village, this tiny settlement is nothing if not refreshing. This is the landscape we follow all the way to Rudranag Temple. The Rudranag temple is 30 minutes from Nakhtan village and gets its name from the serpent-like waterfall near the temple.
A lot of streams that need crossing welcome you all through the trail. It is not overly strenuous though, for there are plenty of rest points all the way to the campsite for the day. Kheerganga is a small colony of temporary tent shelters. It’s bang in the middle of a massive meadow with a hot water spring just by your tents. If you decide to jump into this pool of warmth to take a bath, know that it is likely to be your last during this entire trip!

We make an early start from Kheerganga through the flower-strewn meadows on to our campsite for the day. At the beginning, the trail is muddy as opposed to the slightly rocky terrain we encountered the day before. The trek today is mostly through flat terrain with a few patches of ascent. It takes you through dense forests. More than the climb itself, there is a higher likelihood of delay to get to the campsite because of the picturesque landscape which might demand frequent and long halts just to soak all the beauty in. It is commonplace to chance upon families living in these thick forests going about their lives as you navigate your way through the trail.

As walking down you will reach pastureland through an opaque mixed jungle with a profusion of lovely flowers and Greenery Island. The landscape view of Tunda Bhuj is very easy but the distance is somewhat tough as the bridge is very long to cross and time consuming. Crossing the bridge to the further side of the stream takes time to follow up the peak. It takes 15 minutes to reach the steady climb as you pass through an inclined rocky meadow land. Trekking in Manali discover the prettiness of lovely landscape views and enhance the beautiful picturesque. As you start for the further trail you will go upto a high level and the landscape view can be seen as very striking. After the early rise crossways the Pandu Bridge, walk down towards the Parvati River at your right takes 15 minutes to pass through the fields .Many shepherds can be seen with their group on the way. By evening time, you will reach the Thakur Kuan which is situated at a high altitude of 11,650- ft high above sea level.

Today is going to be one thrilling day for the two bridges which need crossing to get to our next campsite! After a mild ascent, there is a steep rise in the trail which gets you to the first bridge. Once you descend down to the river, you will encounter a massive boulder which needs to be crossed to continue on the trail. This massive boulder bang in the middle of the ferocious Parvati River is the first bridge which will make your palms sweat. It goes by the name of Pandu Pul 1. Just when you would have recuperated from this little river-crossing-in-style adventure, you will come across another 20 feet boulder just chilling in the middle of the thundering river giving you a strong sense of deja-vu! This one’s called Pandu Pul 2.
The trail spreads out in numerous directions as it is a shepherd trail. Remember to follow the group so that you do not get lost amid the labyrinth of trek routes. There are many water points before Pandu Bridge where you can refill your water bottles. After reaching Odi Thach we'll be camping there for the night which is one of the windiest campsites. Odi Thach is a beautiful meadow with the majestic Mt. Kullu Eiger peak overlooking the meadow.

Today, we'll be covering a distance of 12k m which will take around 7-8 hours. This route is a bit muddy which at times can be slippery so it is important to be cautious. You will come across the moraine area which comes right after crossing the muddy surface. It has a steep ascent which requires a lot of physical energy to climb. So it is important to climb at your own pace. Mantalai Lake is the starting point of the Parvati River and you can also visit a small temple there. Your next campsite is just 45 minutes from here.
This wide open land sees the merging of these many water bodies and is a marvel to witness. From Mini Mantalai, to get to the campsite for today, we now have to make a steep ascent of close to 300M which is manageable to negotiate. On the other side of the ascent lies the glacial lake, Mantalai – our campsite for the day on the banks of the lake surrounded by the mighty Himalayas.

Today is a long and hard day with a height gain of almost 800m /2700ft. Considering the challenge for the day, we make an early start, at the break of dawn while the sun is still hiding behind the high peaks in the region. At the start, the trail is a bit muddy with large sections of loose scree which require extreme caution to be navigated. Once this section is crossed, we begin the long and hard ascent for the day. On reaching the spur, the trail eases up a bit with gradual ascent until we hit the moraine section of the climb.
Then you will walk to the campsite area, steep rocks will make you feel tired. Then you will reach to base camp which is surrounded by greenery everywhere and big glaciers. There you will stay in base camp and take rest for an hour and have a delicious dinner.

The trek begins another day after long hours of rest and after a long voyage you will then enter in Spiti Valley. The trail now climbs for an hour amid the glacier and a rock facade. After three hours of sturdy climbing you will arrive at the top of the pass at 17,500 feet from where you can look the way of Pin Valley towards Srikhand Mahadev.
Today requires negotiating long distances on glaciers. It would serve well to exercise caution and to keep very close to your fellow climbers. Don’t be surprised if you chance upon a few open and many hidden crevasses which can prove to be extremely dangerous. On crossing the glacier, the last bit to get to the pass is a steep climb of close to 300-400M. This climb will take you straight to the top of the pass which gives you a glimpse into the two distinct valleys - the Parvati valley to one side and the Pin Valley on the other.

The trail today enters a wide-open valley with numerous streams spread across its floor. With the colors of the earth, spilling out of its dry cracks in the form of tufts and a strong smell of the herbs following you on the trail like a stalker, we stop for lunch near the water. Our destination is not too far from here. This trail leads us straight to the Mudh Village in the desolate, galactic Pin Valley. After you explore the peculiar mountain culture and are done introducing your taste buds to their local Himalayan cuisine, we hit the road again, this time to drive two hours to the town of Kaza.